Semiotics

Introduction

Our thoughts and actions are often or rather governed automatically by a set of composite conventions and cultural messages which depend on the ability to interpret them instantly and instinctively. When we see the different colors of a traffic light, we automatically know how to react. We discern this without even thinking about it. That is because this is a sign which has gotten established by cultural convention over an extended period. That just requires a deal of unconscious cultural knowledge to value its meaning. The definition of semiotics is never complete without that of ‘signs’. A sign gets described as a meaningful entity which stands for something, other than itself. Signs appear in various physical form including sounds, words, images, acts or objects. In semiotics, physical forms are sometimes called the sign vehicle). It is noteworthy that signs possess no intrinsic meaning. An object, say, only becomes a sign when the user invests it with a meaning, or with a reference to a recognized code (Morris, 2008).

The topic of semiotics for long has proven tricky both in description and definition to many. When talking about in most cases, what springs in the minds are those which get routinely referred in our everyday life. These include road signs, pub signs and star signs. If one were to go by that, this could probably lead to an assumption that semiotics is about 'visual signs'. Furthermore, some consider semiotics to be drawings, paintings, and photographs and get keen to direct others to the art and photography sections. All these assumptions get geared towards the same thing. In summary, the shortest definition of semiotics is that it is the study of signs (Morris, 2008). Based on its tradition Semiotic explores a lengthy study into symbols and signs considering these as significant elements of communication. Different from linguistics, semiotics also studies non-linguistic systems.

Divisions or branches of the subject matter (Semiotics)

Semiotics often is divided into three categories.

Semantics: According to Morris the area semantics as a branch of semiotics, relates signs with their designate, or that to which these signs refer to, their denotata, or meaning (Morris, 2008).

Syntactics: As a branch of semiotics, syntactic that studies the formal relations between signs or expressions in abstraction from their signification and their interpretation. It is the branch of semiotics that focuses on the formal characteristics of signs and symbols (Morris, 2008).

Pragmatics: this branch deals with the relation between signs or linguistic expressions and their users. It focuses on the biotic aspects of semiotics. That implies all the psychological, sociological and phenomena that relate to the functioning of signs (Morris, 2008).

Conclusion

From the literature above, one notes that semiotics is apprehensive of meaning. Objects, language, and images generate meanings or trigger a way to comprehend or attribute meaning. It can get seen that semiotics is an inquiry that is much broader than the study of symbolism. The use of semiotic challenges concepts such which possess the notion that images and/or objects can objectively depict something (Morris, 2008).

Semiotics classifies signs in relation to the ways in which they get transmitted. This process of carrying meaning depends on the use of codes. That may include the individual sounds or letters that humans use to form words. Moreover, it includes the body movement people they make in showing different attitudes or emotion. Sometimes semiotics can maneuver in the form of clothes people wear (Morris, 2008). 

References

Morris C. W. (2008). The Handbook of semiotics. Bloomington [u.a.: Indiana Univ. Press
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